DUE TO HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO COVID-19, EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
University of Okoboji Winter Games 2021 will be following all guidelines and proclamations put forth by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Face masks or coverings will be strongly encouraged at all Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored/run events, and social distancing guidelines will be put in place. The number of attendees will be limited at various events. Questions regarding a specific event and its individual COVID-19 guidelines may be directed to the host location.
File photo by Dave Petrick
The 41st annual University of Okoboji Games is ready to begin once again in the Iowa Great Lakes. The weekend is set to kick off early with a snowman building contest throughout the day Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park. Things will get a bit heavier before the night’s end when The Throwing Post in Arnolds Park offers visitors its namesake axe throwing experience from 6-10 p.m.
Friday will begin with four all-day events the boats on ice show at Parks Marina, $5 ice skate rentals for the open skate at Okoboji Boat Works, Camp Okoboji’s family ice fishing retreat at its campground in Milford and another snowman building contest, this time at Okoboji Boat Works. Most of those events will continue through the weekend. Friday will also see the festively colored giant kites hoisted over the frozen surface of West Lake Okoboji from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m. near Arnolds Park Amusement Park. Pickleball enthusiasts can volley for serve at Spirit Lake High School from 2-5 p.m., and The Throwing Post will offer axe throwing to round out the day again that evening.
File photo by Matt Heinrichs
The bulk of Winter Games action will fall on Saturday. Along with the previous all-day events, Parks Marina will add a hanging bar competition in which participants can showcase their strength. Helicopter rides will also take off from the marina, and the amusement park plans to display interactive ice sculpture for the public. Oak Hill Outdoor in Milford will welcome shivering visitors inside for a warm-up station from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The staff will be providing free coffee, cocoa and cider to take the chill off. Back in Arnolds Park, Nautical Okoboji Bar and Grill will have its Kegs and Eggs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and The Throwing Post will hold its 10 for $10 Tournament from 8 a.m. to noon. And those looking for a little more tranquility can sample a session of “snowga” with Janine of Yoga Okoboji from 8-9 a.m. yoga mats will be available to borrow.
Several winterized sporting events are on the docket from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spectators can cheer on their favorite team during the staple broomball tournament in Smith’s Bay on West Lake Okoboji, the flag football tournament at Parks Marina or the snow softball tournament at The Ritz in Arnolds Park. By 9 a.m., runners will have taken their first strides in the 5K Fun Run outside the Majestic Pavillion in Arnolds Park registration closes at 8:30 a.m. While the runners are getting started, the first competitors in the human foosball competition will be taking their positions a short distance away in Preservation Plaza. Meanwhile, the indoor volleyball tournament at the Spirit Lake Middle School will be getting underway.
The next hour will keep the action rolling when the hammerschlagen tournament begins at 10 a.m. at the Dry Dock. Okoboji Motorsports will also demonstrate UTVs and studded Polaris Slingshots on the ice just across the Highway 71 bridge near The Ritz at that time. Oak Hill Marina will pour hot cocoa and hot totties for anyone in need of a warm up during the Winter Games family ice fishing event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Arnolds Park Amusement Park will host a pinball tournament using some of the vintage pinball machines inside the park’s newest museum wing from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m. The giant kites will fly once again during that time, and young ones can try their hand at decorating their own standard-sized kites from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and maybe try flying them outside with the pros. Food trucks will be on the park grounds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the park has indicated seating will be available in the Majestic Pavillion.
The Business Today Bowling Tournament will rollout at 11 a.m. at Corner Lanes in Spirit Lake an adult tournament is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. that evening, and bowlers can lace up for another round of play at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. The clippty-clop of horse drawn carriages and trick ponies will echo through Parks Marina around 11 a.m. Saturday and will be paired with games for the youngest Winter Games competitors.
The Fish Shack is sure to attract some colorful characters around noon as it hosts a best beards contest until 2 p.m. voting from 2-3 p.m. with the winner being announced at 3:30 p.m. as well as redneck curling until 6 p.m. The noon hour will also mark the starting time for the Ice Oval Shootout races at Parks Marina sign up closes at 10 a.m. and practice begins an hour later. A classic bean bag toss tournament will begin at 1 p.m at The Gardens in Arnolds Park, with a 12:30 p.m. check in time, and the ever-entertaining human dogsled races will mush at 1 p.m. as well back at Parks Marina.
F45 Fitness in Arnolds Park plans to host the inaugural Winter Games snowball fight the same hour in Preservation Plaza, while a match game show tournament buzzes in at the Majestic Pavillion. Okoboji Boat Works will trade it’s bearded competitors for some even hairier competitors from 1-2 p.m. during the Best in Show winter dog show. Once the best of the good dogs is crowned, spectators and competitors will be spinning with anticipation for the 2 p.m. Drill or Die hand ice auger races at Parks Marina.
File photo by Dave Petrick
The popular Polar Plunge will make its usual splash at 3 p.m. registration opens at 1:30 p.m. and raise funds for the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue dive team. The winner of the weekend’s ongoing snowman building contest will also be announced at 3 p.m. at Okoboji Boat Works. A stein holding contest is scheduled for 3 p.m. as well at the Barefoot bar, and competitors can shift gears to keg throwing at 4 p.m. if they head over to The Gardens.
The night’s official festivities will end at 6:30 p.m. with the traditional Fireworks Extravaganza and the burning of the greens near Preservation Plaza.
Sunday will round out the weekend’s happenings. Though the snowman building contest will have named it’s champion, Camp Okoboji’s family ice fishing retreat will continue, along with the indoor pickleball tournament at Spirit Lake High School and skate rentals at Okoboji Boat Works. Oak Hill Outdoor will again offer it’s warm drinks to cold competitors in need of a break, and the giant kites will grace the skies over West Lake Okoboji one last time from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. that day.
41st annual University of Okoboji Winter Games schedule of events
File photo by Seth Boyes
Thursday, Jan. 28
All Day Snowman building contest at the Roof Garden Ballroom, Arnolds Park
6-10 p.m. Axe throwing at The Throwing Post, Arnolds Park
File photo by Matt Heinrichs
Friday, Jan. 29
All Day Boats on ice show at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
All Day Camp Okoboji’s family ice fishing retreat at Camp Okoboji, Milford
All Day Snowman building contest at Okoboji Boatworks, Okoboji
All Day $5 ice skate rentals and open skate at Okoboji Boatworks, Okoboji
6-10 a.m. KUOO Radio Show 2 Go kick-off breakfast at The Boat Club above Snappers, East Lake Okoboji
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Okoboji Winter Games kite festival at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
2-5 p.m. Indoor pickleball tournament and open rec play/practice at Spirit Lake High School, Spirit Lake
6-10 p.m. Axe throwing at The Throwing Post, Arnolds Park
Saturday, Jan. 30
All Day $5 ice skate rentals and open skate at Okoboji Boatworks, Okoboji
All Day Axe throwing at The Throwing Post, Arnolds Park
All Day Boats on ice show at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
All Day Camp Okoboji’s family ice fishing retreat at Camp Okoboji, Milford
All Day Hanging bar competition – test your strength – at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
All Day Helicopter rides at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
All Day Interactive ice sculptures – Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
All Day Snowman building contest at Okoboji Boat Works, Okoboji
6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Warm up station with free coffee, cocoa and cider at Oak Hill Outdoor, Milford
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 5K Fun Run check in and registration (start at 9 a.m.) at the Majestic Pavilion, Arnolds Park
8-9 a.m. Snowga with Janine and Yoga Okoboji (mats available to borrow) at Berkley Bedell State Pier, Arnolds Park
8-11 a.m. Kegs and Eggs at Nautical Okoboji Bar and Grill, Arnolds Park
8 a.m. to Noon Axe Throwing “10 for $10 Tournament” at The Throwing Post, Arnolds Park
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Broomball tournament at Smith’s Bay, West Lake Okoboji
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flag football tournament at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Snow softball tournament at The Ritz, Arnolds Park
9 a.m. 5K Fun Run (registration closes at 8:30 a.m.) at the Majestic Pavillion, Arnolds Park
9 a.m. Human foosball tournament, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
9-10 a.m. Ice Oval Shootout race sign up at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
File photo by Dave Petrick
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indoor volleyball tournament at Spirit Lake Middle School and High School, Spirit Lake
10 a.m. Hammerschlagen tournament at the Dry Dock, Arnolds Park
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Okoboji Motorsports studded slingshot demonstration on the ice at The Ritz, Arnolds Park
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Okoboji Motorsports UTV demonstration on the ice at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Winter Games family ice fishing at Oak Hill Marina, Arnolds Park
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pinball tournament at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Okoboji Winter Games kite festival at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Food trucks at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Kids Color Your Own Kites to fly with the pros at the Majestic Pavillion, Arnolds Park
11 a.m. Business Today Bowling Tournament at Corner Lanes, Spirit Lake
11 a.m. Horse drawn carriage rides, trick pony show and kids games at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
11 a.m. Ice Oval Shootout race practice at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
Noon to 2 p.m. Best beards contest at the Fish Shack, Okoboji Boat Works
Noon to 2 p.m. Redneck curling at Okoboji Boat Works, Okoboji
Noon Ice Oval Shootout races (sign up closes at 10 a.m. and practice begins at 11 a.m.) at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
Noon Live ice carving at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
Noon Redneck curling at the Fish Shack, Okoboji Boat Works
1 p.m. Bean bag toss tournament at The Gardens, Arnolds Park
File photo by Matt Heinrichs
1 p.m. Human dogsled races (check-in at 12:30 p.m.) at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
1 p.m. Inaugural F45 Winter Games Snowball Fight at Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park
1-2 p.m. Best in Show winter dog show at Okoboji Boat Works, Okoboji
1-3 p.m. Game show tournament at the Majestic Pavillion, Arnolds Park
2 p.m. Drill or Die hand auger races at Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
2-3 p.m. Best beards contest voting at the Fish Shack, Okoboji Boat Works
3 p.m. Polar plunge (registration opens at 1:30 p.m.) at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
3 p.m. Snowman building contest winner announced at Okoboji Boat Works, Okoboji
3 p.m. Stein holding contest at the Barefoot Bar, East Lake Okoboji
3-7 p.m. Business Today Adult Bowling Tournament at Corner Lanes, Spirit Lake
3:30 p.m. Best beards contest winner announced at the Fish Shack, Okoboji Boat Works
4 p.m. Keg toss on the ice at The Gardnes, Arnolds Park
6:30 p.m. Fireworks Extravaganza and burning of the greens at Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park
Sunday, Jan. 31
File photo by Matt Heinrichs
All Day Camp Okoboji’s family ice fishing retreat at Camp Okoboji, Milford
All Day Indoor pickleball tournament at Spirit Lake High School, Spirit Lake
All Day $5 ice skate rentals and open skate at Okoboji Boat Works, Okoboji
6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Warm up station with free coffee, cocoa and cider at Oak Hill Outdoor, Milford
10 a.m to 4 p.m. Okoboji Winter Games kite festival at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park
11 a.m. Business Today Bowling Tournament at Corner Lanes, Spirit Lake
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.